The Whipping Boy (2017)
We are about to embark on our 2017 One School, One Book literacy project. The project rationale is to promote literacy as a whole school community by involving the home and school. Every student in Grade 1 – 6 will get a copy of the book, courtesy of Parent Council. The students will read the chapters at home, a reading schedule is attached, and we will have activities, trivia and discussions at school.
A Whipping Boy Whipping boys were established in the English court during the monarchies of the Early Modern Period. The purpose of a whipping boy was to receive the punishment that was assigned to the young prince for general misbehavior. Whipping boys were created to satisfy the idea of the Divine Right of Kings, which states that God appoints the monarchy and that the prince would be an extension upon that lineage, thus no one but the king would be worthy of punishing the prince. The idea that no one is worthy of punishing this future king would create considerable problems for the court servants that might find the need to punish a young prince.
Letter Home:
Dear St. Mary’s Families,
St. Mary’s School is a literacy school where we share a love of reading with all our students daily. We are about to embark on our 2017 One School, One Book literacy project. The project rationale is to promote literacy as a whole school community by involving the home and school. Every student in Grade 1 – 6 will get a copy of the book, courtesy of Parent Council. The students will read the chapters at home, a reading schedule is attached, and we will have activities, trivia and discussions at school.
The One School One Book organization has many titles and we have selected The Whipping Boy, as our novel. It is approximately at a Grade 3 reading level. This means that some younger students will need the book read to them by an adult or older sibling.
Like many school novels, the book is a fun and adventurous story. There will be many opportunities for you at home as well as teachers at school to engage in deep questions about society and human behaviour. These type of themes are common in books, movies and TV shows, and we believe that we should work together as teachers and parents to talk about these situations with our children. It is a powerful opportunity to teach our children about our moral fabric and how we believe we should act and treat others. You will also receive information from Literacy for Life. This information is meant to assist in setting up and working with your child when reading at home.
Other highlights of the One School, One Book Project:
> Grade-level trivia with prizes to be won!
> Staff Audio Recordings of each chapter available!
> Family Group Book Activities!
> Classroom door decorating contest
> Front castle display
> Literacy for Life Reading Bingo!
> Literacy for Life home reading information!
> Writing Competition with a chance to be St. Mary’s King or Queen for a Day!
> Coin donations for St. Vincent De Paul to help less fortunate local families !
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school. Updates and activities are posted on our website. We look forward to another whole school literacy project!
St. Mary’s School One School, One Book Committee
(Mrs. Park, Mrs. Lacroix, Mrs. Boynton, Mrs. Richichi and Mr. Bailey)
